Perdue: Tomblin "sold us out"

By David Catanese

05/05/11 09:36 AM EDT

West Virginia State Treasurer John Perdue continues to take the gubernatorial primary fight directly to Earl Ray Tomblin, accusing the acting governor of providing "welfare to the rich" in his newest television commercial.

Perdue is seizing on Tomblin's decision to provide $100 million to bolster the casino industry in a tight budget year. He also slams Tomblin for backing a breeders development fund as a lawmaker that benefited his mother's kennel business, saying he "abused his power."

Coupled together, the two charges are meant to portray the Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner as an out-of-touch public figure who is out to leverage the perks of the office for personal gain.

"Earl Ray Tomblin sold us out," charges the spot.

“I believe the record of Earl Ray Tomblin is shot through with examples of bad priorities and self dealing. This is exactly the kind of behavior that the people of West Virginia are sick and tired of from their elected officials," said Perdue in a statement.

While briefly mentioned at the beginning of the ad, the commercial shifts away from Perdue's original messaging that highlighted skyrocketing utility rates and sliced Tomblin and his other opponents for being "in the pocket" of the energy companies.

Tomblin's campaign said the new, more direct attacks are a product of Perdue's failed strategy.

"We are disappointed that because his unrealistic ideas continue to fall flat with voters, John Perdue’s desperate campaign has resorted to false personal attacks," said Tomblin spokesperson Chris Stadelman.

"Perdue is attacking two pieces of bipartisan legislation that protect thousands of West Virginia jobs and keep millions of dollars in our economy. Voters won’t be fooled by this kind of cheap politics because they understand that Governor Tomblin has an unblemished career in public life and is focused on the things that matter: creating jobs and lowering taxes for the people of West Virginia," he continued.

The Gazette-Mail editorial that Perdue actually cites in his ad notes that Perdue was "instrumental" in getting racetrack video lottery legalized in the first place and argues that politicians should be more concerned about the giveaways to greyhound owners and breeders.

Tomblin's mother has received $2.5 million over the last decade from a state greyhound fund that was created when the acting governor was chairman of the state Senate Finance Committee.

Freda Tomblin has previously defended receiving the funds, telling the the Daily Mail, "It's just like raising a garden. If you don't take care of it, you don't have vegetables."

Perdue has taken the most aggressive approach to challenging Tomblin ahead of the May 14 primary that also includes Secretary of State Natalie Tennant and House Speaker Rick Thompson.

State President Jeff Kessler has begun trying to poke holes in Tomblin's ad campaign, saying claims he reduced the sales tax and increased teacher pay are "fiction." But without resources to fund an ad campaign, Kessler's message isn't likely to pierce through to enough likely voters to have an impact.